Britt Baron – GLOW

By starrymag | July 10, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

 

A) I just finished filming a new series called “Rob Riggle’s Ski Master Academy” for Sony Crackle. It’s this hilarious comedy about a Jet Ski academy that Rob Riggle opens. The story centers around this staff of misfit instructors who spend a semester trying to defend their academy despite all of the criticism and constant insanity that occurs. I play a very passionate teacher who desperately wants to follow in my father’s footsteps as a top stunt performer and instructor. But my father (Billy Merritt) doesn’t want that life for me. Most of my comedy comes out of the ridiculous schemes she cooks up to get the opportunity to teach stunts. It’s so hilarious and it was such a treat to get to work with Rob and Eliza Coupe, Billy Merritt, Dave “Gruber” Allen and Samm Levine. I mean, it was just such a slam dunk group of comedians I had so much fun. I’m also excited to get to play a character that is very different from Justine so that audiences can see a different side of me.

 

 

Q) What is new this season on “GLOW” and with your character Justine?

 

A) Season One was a lot of set up in terms of the girls learning how to wrestle and setting up the show. Season Two has the show is up and running, there is more wrestling, more competition among the girls, they have to deal with newfound fame and reconcile with offensive wrestling characters. This season follows the characters as they work to find their own identity both in and out of the ring. You get to see these women discovering their real selves and watch them finally become the women they want to be instead of the ones they’ve been forced to be. Justine has moved in with Sam (Marc Maron) in Season Two and you really get to see a new softer side to her. She takes on more of a role as a daughter trying to figure out how to have a semi-functional relationship with Sam. It’s really a wonderful bond that these two tough, stubborn, almost complete strangers form throughout Season Two.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of the series?

 

A) I was a huge “Orange is the New Black” fan. I actually had finished watching one of the seasons the night before I booked “GLOW.” So, I was very eager to get to be a part of a show with Jenji Kohan. I just think she is brilliant! I read the pilot and thought that it was one of the most impressive scripts I had ever read. The reveal that Ruth (Alison Brie) slept with Debbie’s (Betty Gilpin) husband and then their dream sequence wrestling match at the end, it was all so smart and funny and honestly heartfelt. It also felt very unique, it’s a cast of almost all women of different ages, ethnicities, sizes and personalities and it centers around women using their bodies in this strong empowering way that has nothing to do with being sexy. It just felt very smart and unique. I remember thinking that even if I’m not cast in this show I will watch it. I auditioned for so many shows that I would have been more than happy to be a part of, but to be cast on a show that I genuinely believe in and would have watched is a real gift.

 

Q) How was Justine originally described to you?

 

“A teenage runaway. Cagey and precocious, but still genuinely a kid.” That is word for word what was in my original “GLOW” audition email (l just went back and checked). That is really all I knew. I didn’t know that she was Sam Sylvia’s daughter. I didn’t even really know that she was punk or into horror films. That kind of all developed as we went.

I come from a theater background and shooting a TV show is such a departure from performing plays because you don’t know where your story is going to go. We receive our scripts maybe a week ahead of filming and even then, they are constantly being re-written so you need to adapt as you go. It was a new exciting challenge but going into my audition I didn’t really have a full understanding of who Justine is today.

 

Q) Were you familiar with any of your co-stars before filming with them?

 

A) I had actually auditioned to play Marc’s niece on his show “Maron” a year or two before “GLOW.” I don’t even think I got a callback. So, I knew who Marc Maron was, but I hadn’t listened to his podcast. I actually didn’t listen to it until after we shot Season One because I didn’t want it to affect how I saw him. I was also a huge fan of Kate Nash growing up, but I didn’t even recognize her during the first week of training because Kate had this bleach blonde blunt lob haircut! It wasn’t until one night during training that I looked everyone up and realized who she was that I freaked out. I used to listen to Kate’s songs on my first little iPod. I put her songs on a mix tape for my boyfriend in high school and now to call her a friend is surreal. Kate is one of the strongest, authentic, unapologetic, empathetic, supportive friends I have ever had. I have loved getting to know her. The cast got to see her perform in LA this Summer while she was on tour and it was amazing. She is a literal and figurative rockstar.

 

Q) What kind of preparation did you undergo to get ready to play a female wrestler?

 

A) We train for four weeks before we start shooting each season and continue to train on days that we aren’t filming. Chavo Guerro, Jr. is our wrestling coach and Shauna Duggins is our stunt coordinator and they do an incredible job. They are so supportive, patient, kind and hilarious. I love training!

None of us knew how to wrestle in Season One, so we were really starting at square one. I don’t even think I knew how to get into the ring. And all of those moves hurt the first thirty times you try them, so overall, I think we moved at a slower pace. Season Two we were all so excited to be back and anxious to get to training that we went full throttle! I thought after a year went by we would need more of a refresher, but it was really like getting back on a bike, muscle memory kicked right in. So, Season Two training we got to skip all the basics and move into more complicated moves, which was exciting and rewarding!

 

Q) We saw Justine fall for the pizza delivery guy. Does she have her eyes set on someone new?

 

A) How could you compete with the pizza guy!? No, luckily Billy (Casey Johnson) is back this season. He is Justine’s first boyfriend and I think first love is so strong and intense and not something someone easily gets over. I was so happy to have Billy back as I think their dynamic is so hilarious and relatable. I definitely had my fair share of crushes on bad boys like Billy.

 

Q) Was there someone you didn’t get to work with much in Season One that you were hoping to have more scenes with in Season Two?

 

A) It was fun in Season Two to work with Ali more and to see Ruth and Justine’s relationship develop. Season One we maybe spoke a word or two on camera. The characters are so drastically different from one another, so I really enjoyed Justine warming up to Ruth in Season Two out of a love for her Dad. There is a scene where Justine asks Ruth to attend one of Sam’s screenings because she is scared no one will show up and it was such a tender moment between the two, and later Ruth helps Justine get ready for her winter formal. It’s a very sweet and strange relationship that I love in Season Two.

 

Q) Talk about working with costars Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin.

 

A) First of all, Ali and Betty are two of the most talented actresses I have ever known. They craft these nuanced, specific, hilarious and heartfelt performances that just blow me away and to top it all off they are both incredibly down to earth. They are such amazing role models to me. They are kind, thoughtful, smart, hard-working, dedicated, talented, hilarious, goofy women who kind of set the tone for our set. I have gone to each of them for advice, as I am still new to navigating the ins and outs of Hollywood, and they are just great sounding boards. Being able to watch them work is like the greatest master class for me and getting to know them as people has been a joy. They are so smart and authentically themselves. They truly are just phenomenal women.

 

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “GLOW?”

 

A) In Season Two I get into a fight at a punk club and it was one of my favorite scenes to film. It is kind of the closest I have gotten to wrestler and we didn’t use my stunt double. I just was so proud and excited to get to play out this very physical fight. Justine unleashes all of this pent-up aggression, so it was very fun to film. In a more general sense, I just love shooting the big group scenes as they take forever to film because there is so much coverage needed of everyone, but that makes it kind of fun. We are all in it together and start making up catchphrases and songs to pass the time. It’s those moments that I think make behind the scenes of glow so special.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the show that makes it such a good fit for Netflix?

 

A) Netflix does a phenomenal job at letting the creators have free reign over their projects, which is I think ultimately is why their original shows are so successful and good. Our showrunners and writers have such a clear vision and are allowed to execute that without being forced to change things to appease certain sponsors or network execs. The show can run without commercials and the runtime has some flexibility for each episode, which I think helps build momentum in our show. We get to explore some sensitive topics this season and I think being on a network without censorship also helps allow us to address things in a meaningful, honest and unfiltered way. I also think releasing all of the episodes at once really works for our show. The episodes are so short and they are filled with comedy and drama. They are such an enjoyable watch that I think it’s nice to have the liberty to kind of stay in that world and binge it. Netflix is kind of pioneering this new age of television and “GLOW” is such unique show that I can’t think of a better home for it.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the fan feedback you receive to the series/episodes?

 

A) The whole public social media thing is all still very new to me. It’s kind of different thing now that people other than my family and friends are looking. I think I just feel more pressure not to say something stupid or that will be misinterpreted, but at the same time I don’t want to censor or filter myself too much. I’m really trying to remain authentic and just be myself. This industry is so crazy, so I just really want to stay true to myself as much as I can on social media.  I’m definitely still figuring it out. I do love being able to connect with people who watch the show. That is incredibly rewarding. People from all over the world who reach out and let you know little-nuanced things about the show that they loved, like a certain band t-shirt I wear or a line I said. It’s so special. But people can also be brutal on social media, so I’m always kind of careful reading comments. I definitely don’t google myself anymore…I need to protect my heart a bit.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart thank you. I was babysitting the night I found out I booked “GLOW” and I still can’t believe that this is my life and it really would not be possible if people didn’t watch and support the show. I’m so grateful to fans that reach out and let me know how much they relate to Justine.